September 21, 2003	Sunday	Rajab 23, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

CAPE TOWN, Sept 20: South Africa have cancelled their tour to Pakistan because of security concerns, the United Cricket Board (UCB) said on Saturday.

The tour was given a final go-ahead on Thursday but the UCB subsequently decided to call it off because of a bomb blast in Karachi on Friday. South Africa were due to leave on Sunday.

“The UCB regrets that South Africa is unable to tour Pakistan at this time due to yesterday’s bomb blast in Karachi and the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan,” UCB media officer Gerald de Kock said.

De Kock said there was still hope the two teams could meet at an alternative venue.

“The UCB has offered the Pakistan Cricket Board the option of playing the series in South Africa or at a neutral venue,” he said.

The UCB said the decision had been taken after consultation with safety and security consultants, as well as South Africa’s High Commissioner in Karachi, and also as a result of information received from international intelligence sources.

Before the current tour by Bangladesh, Pakistan had played only two Tests and three one-day internationals at home following the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and the subsequent war in Afghanistan. India called off a tour in April because of tensions over Kashmir.

Pakistan are due to play Bangladesh in the final game of the five-match one-day series in Karachi on Sunday.

UCB President Ray Mali said South Africa regretted calling off the tour.

“The decision has been taken with much regret,” he said.

“We know how much the tour means to the people of Pakistan and it is also a tour which we have been looking forward to. But the safety of our players is our primary concern.”

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said the team had been looking forward to the tour.—Reuters